[Ti] (OT) virus reports sent back to me by PC users

[Dale Gardner]

Three factors, I think.

Technology: MP3Concept was not malicious and was intended, IIRC, more to
generate attention and press, but it did demonstrate the technology to do
this sort of thing exists and people, even Mac users, will click on any damn
thing that shows up in their mailbox.

Practicality: One of the real reasons Mac's have been ignored by virus
writers is that none (ok, few) of them used the platform - how are you
really going to write a Mac virus if you use a Windows machine? Now that
Macs are seeing uptake amongst the technical/hacker crowd, due to OS X, it's
just easier for them to do the job.

Pride: Hackers and virus writers are motivated by ego. Any loser can write a
virus for Windows, you don't have to know anything. But that's not true of
Macs - or Unix in general - so what kind of an ego trip would it be to write
the 'first' major virus/worm for OS X? Take that smug look right off the
face of all those people who claim Macs are immune to viruses.

The third point alone makes it an irresistible target.

Regards,

Dale

on 6/16/04 1:19 PM, kalirhe at umdnj.edu at kalirhe at umdnj.edu wrote:

> Dale,
> 
> What is the basis for your assertion (other than the possibility - which has
> always existed, but never materialized due to the Mac's miniscule market
> share)? Why would virus-writers be more motivated now to write viruses
> capable of infecting the Mac?
> 
> Best,
> 
> Henry
> 
> 
> Quoting Dale Gardner <drgardner at mac.com>:
> 
> <<<Snipped>>>
> 
>> There is little risk
>> from
>> virus infection on the Mac, but that will change - sooner, rather than
>> later
>> I expect.

-- 
Dale Gardner
drgardner at mac.com

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin